Eagles' Fletcher Cox Told Patriots He Wouldn’t Be on Board for Them in 2012 Draft

Now a Philadelphia Eagles legend, Fletcher Cox had a simple message for a New England Patriots staffer during his visit before the 2012 NFL Draft.

It's not quite at the level of Deion Sanders declining to take a pre-draft test with the New York Giants at the 1989 NFL Combine, but Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox apparently was perplexed during a visit with the New England Patriots in the lead up to the 2012 NFL Draft. 

Before Chris Simms began his media career, the former NFL quarterback was a coaching assistant on Bill Belichick's staff in New England. On Wednesday's edition of "PFT Live," Simms recalled Cox's pre-draft visit to the Patriots. 

"When I was working in New England in 2012, I had a very similar type of thing. Fletcher Cox was in the building ... he was in the waiting room ... outside of Bill Belichick's office, kind of waiting to get indoctrinated into the day. I was, of course, part of the scouting department where I would have to pick guys up at the airport at times and do that. 

"So I'm kind of down there checking out and he's kind of like in a bad mood. And [I'm like] 'What's up, what's going on, man?' [And he's like] 'I don't even know why I'm here. I don't know why I'm here.' And I said 'Well what do you mean?' And he goes 'I'm not gonna be on the board when you guys are picking.'" 

Simms went on to admit that he conceded to Cox that it was unlikely that he would be available for them to pick, but reminded him that trading up is always a possibility if a team falls in love with a player. 

Ultimately, though, Cox's instincts turned out to be correct. The Eagles used the No. 12 overall pick on Cox, nine selections before the Patriots went on the clock. Of course, Cox has been one of the best defensive linemen of his era, including helping the Eagles to defeat those same Patriots nearly six years later in Super Bowl LII.

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